The Forsite Irregulars

Rivals in the Catacombs

Encounters 23-27 of the Madness of Gardmore Abbey

After resting in the Temple on the peak of Gardmore Abbey, the Irregulars head down the stairs into the catacombs beneath, in search of the Bowl of Io’s Blood – the first of three relics required to cleanse the Dragon’s Roost…

Headed down the stairs Shute hears the sound of combat ahead…

They learn that a party of adventurers has arrived before them and is already engaged with a group of reanimated-knights.

Surprise! They have a Card from the Deck of Many Things: The Key

Our heroes join the fight against the undead.

Just as the battle is ending, the rival party starts to bid a hasty retreat up the steps…

But Florynsael will have none of it and teleports herself among them in an attempt to slow them down…

There is a bunch of sneaking (Shute and the Drow) and threatening (Aquero and Kurick) until…

…their mage, Lenna responds positively to the Irregulars’ request for parley. At first the party only learns that the rivals came to the Dragon’s Roost via the Feygrove.

[Spoilers omitted] but our heroes don’t let on that they know anything about the Deck, and sat they are only here with Sir Oakley in an attempt to gather the relics to cleans the temple. The Rivals, though non-hostile weren’t exactly best-buddies – bid them “Good luck, and we’ll see you in Winterhaven – we’re headed back now”. Lenna tells Florynsael she’d like to learn more about her teleportation magic when they return.

Encounter 24: The Font of Divine Health

The battle against undead continues as they enter the next chamber.

The elementalist makes short work of the skeletons, so the illusionist makes a rash move and charges into the far end of the room behind the paladin…

And is quickly attacked by multi-armed undead knights, who nock her out in a single round!

The satyr/bard leaps into the action to lift her body to safety, before she is slain forever, while the remainder of the group gather their wits to take out the remaining threats.

With a short bit of rest, they examine the fountain – it has restorative powers…

“The eye of Bahamut shows the way!” is the scripture that Sir Oakley quotes while noticing that the head on the floor-mosaic is pointing the wrong-way.

The Secret Shrine

It is “looking” at a secret door leading to a shrine.

Two images line the walls, the Platinum and the Skeletal Dragon. “Life, and Death”

This chamber hasn’t been used since the fall of the abbey, more than 100 years ago. It seems safe to rest here.

Encounter 25:The Memorial Chamber

After getting some unexpectedly restful sleep, the Irregulars and Sir Oakley continue through the catacombs. Next they enter the memorial chamber – which as many tapestries and murals painted on the walls.

Again, this chamber is infested with monsters and the reanimated. Someone, or some-thing has awoken the great historical guardians of Gardmore.

Besides undead, there are the carrion of untended crypts, such as Rot Grub swarms, dropping from the cracked ceilings and walls.

A flameskull? This is definitely necromancy!

With success comes the opportunity for Oakley to appreciate, and share, the history of Gardmore depicted on the walls.

Encounter 26: Dragonslayer’s Tomb

There are still two items of interest they seek: The Bowl of Io’s Blood and the shards of Moonbane – so the press on. Next up they encounter a curtain made of many colors of dragon scales covering the entrance to the next tomb.

Again, the chamber is full of undead – but this time, they command powerful dark winds – turning the entire chamber into a shrapnel field – rocks, metal and glass shards fly come from all directions, making melee treacherous.

The mages seek cover and snipe at the spirits from behind the curtain.

They eventually dispatch the monsters, but Shute takes a final hit, dropping her to near unconsciousness…

The knight quickly forces a healing potion down her throat, halting the transformation but leaving her with obvious scaring around the eyes – her face was starting to transform and is “stuck” partially through the process.

The decide to return to the Hidden Shrine to rest and let Shute and Florynsael recuperate.

Encounter 27: Great Hall

The party approaches the great hall – containing the tombs of the Abbey’s greatest heroes, including Oakley’s great ancestor – the founder of the order.

And again, the crypt is full of undead…

They are lead by a female vampire dressed as a Paladin of Bahamut, who calls forth his pet Basilisk!

… and an evil necromancer: Vadin Cartright who calls forth his basilisk.

Battle is engaged!

Shute jumps upon the back of the Basilisk to avoid it’s gage..

Vadin calls the Elementist by name, and says – “Edryd – you haven’t encountered another fire-elementalist, have you? Haven’t you ever wondered why? And what really happened with your ‘father’? Just stop fighting and we’ll talk”

But it is Edryd that decides to take Vadin down himself.

They encounter the Voidharrow [spoilers omitted] and ultimately it ends up flowing around inside the party’s portable hole. They also recover the shards of the Moonbane and the Bowl of Io’s blood.

The quest continues in “The Dragon in Bahamut’s Vault”: https://the-forsite-irregulars.obsidianportal.com/adventure-log/the-dragon-in-bahamuts-vault